Moving out of London but will need to commute - area recommendations?

[Photogemic]

hello

Sorry for another of these threads! But like a lot of people the last 18 months has forced me and DH to reasses everything. For him this came in the form of going full time freelance and us deciding its time to move out of London. This is because a) if we sell our house in London we can get more for our money and a lower mortgage and b) I'm a country girl at heart and raising kids I would prefer to be nearer more open spaces.

With this in mind we are taking the plunge and putting the house up for sale. Now my husband is North London born and bred - they furthest he ever got was Hatfield for university where I am originally from up north and lived in a few different places around the world. So neither of us particularly know any areas to move to.

Here is what we are looking for 4 bedroom house (terraced/semi/detatched) so we have enough room to grow as a family and husband will have dedicated office.

Near enough the station for me to get to Clapham Junction for work - want to keep commute at about hour or so (at the moment I haven't converted my NZ drivers licence so would walk or public transport but both of us are going to be getting our licences in the future as must have with kids!).

Easy to get to shops etc and somewhere we can go out and eat

Near decent schools and areas for walking the doggy.

We have looked at Staines, Gravesend, Greenhithe, Ebbsfleet, Swanscombe, Rochester/Chatham, Halling but we have no idea if they are good or bad areas if honest.

Open to suggestions and our budget is around £500k (to keep mortgage low).

Thanks!
Gx

Winchester is lovely and less than an hour to Clapham Junction. It's a small city that has more of a market town vibe - everything is walkable so good if you don't drive yet. Schools are excellent too.

Clapham Junction can be reached direct from East Grinstead and stations on that line, and with a change at East Croydon, from stations on the Uckfield line. There are villages within budget and that meet your other criteria.

Winchester is expensive and the train tickets are very costly - about £600 per month I think.

Agree with the East Grinstead line stations - Riddlesdown, Upper Warlingham, etc. Very leafy and affordable for London.

You could have a look at the Clapham Junction live departures board on the National Rail website and start exploring that way.